Southern Star Luo Empire.
Outside a remote mountain village.
In front of a lonely grave.
This solitary grave lay in a beautifully scenic area, surrounded by blooming flowers and nestled against two large trees.
Huo Yuhao knelt before the grave, hands clasped together in reverence.
Wei Na and Beibei stood silently behind him. Neither of them spoke. They simply watched Huo Yuhao quietly, their eyes tinged with sorrow and sympathy.
Compared to Huo Yuhao, even Beibei—who also had no parents—seemed far more fortunate.
Finally, Huo Yuhao opened his eyes and smiled at the grave mound.
"Mom, I'll come see you again next year."
Then, he stood up.
But immediately after, he was pulled into a soft embrace, forcing him to carry the emotional weight.
"Yuhao, I'll take good care of you from now on," Wei Na promised, her eyes red with emotion.
Beibei also made a serious vow to the grave, "Auntie, don't worry. From now on, we'll always be there for little brother Huo."
As you can see—
Huo Yuhao was here to pay respects to his mother.
Lying beneath the grave was indeed the remains of Huo Yuner.
The nearby valley village was rather isolated from the outside world.
All of this was the result of Huo Yuhao's centipede-leg clone.
Moreover, the clone had applied ancient architectural aesthetics to select a fine burial site for Huo Yuner.
Unexpectedly, such methods actually proved effective in the Douluo Continent. Huo Yuhao could genuinely feel a trace of maternal blessing.
However, the location wasn't a dragon's den or sacred site, so the spiritual benefit to Huo Yuhao from burying Huo Yuner here was limited.
"In the future, once I find a truly auspicious land, I'll relocate Mom's grave so she can rest in true peace."
This thought opened new possibilities for Huo Yuhao.
In fact, he had even considered refining Huo Yuner into a zombie. She hadn't been dead long—only a few months—and her body hadn't completely decomposed, so technically, she could be turned into an undead.
There was even the possibility she could take revenge with her own hands.
But ultimately, Huo Yuhao gave up on this idea.
On one hand, he had to consider Shrek Academy.
Though they didn't overtly probe into his past—thanks to his incredible talent—they were undoubtedly investigating in secret. Huo Yuhao knew this remained a potential vulnerability.
If he ever wanted to join the Sea God's Pavilion, he couldn't afford to leave such flaws.
That's why he chose to relocate her remains properly rather than use some random corpse as a stand-in.
On the other hand, part of Huo Yuner's body had already begun to decompose, leaving her appearance twisted and grotesque.
Huo Yuhao chose to preserve her dignity.
Worst case scenario, he would reclaim Huo Yuner's soul from Tang God-King in the future—and then decide what to do.
As for the souls of everyone from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, Huo Yuhao would keep them well-preserved in his Ghost Banner.
This holiday, Huo Yuhao planned to head to the Heavenly Soul Empire with Wei Na to help defend against the beast tide in the north. Before traveling north, he returned to his "hometown" to pay respects to his mother.
Neither Mu En nor Yan Shaozhe stopped him; on the contrary, they even asked Beibei to accompany him as a form of training.
Only Yan Shaozhe reminded Huo Yuhao to return to the Academy on time.
Later, Huo Yuhao, Wei Na, and Beibei arrived back in the mountain village. He greeted the village chief and the villagers who had "cared for him as a child," and left behind some gold soul coins.
From the familiarity between Huo Yuhao and the villagers, it was clear he knew this village very well.
The villagers' friendly attitudes also showed that Huo Yuhao had always been a good kid.
As for his "former residence," he had already gifted it to the village. Now it was home to a young married couple.
Huo Yuhao didn't linger long in the village. He soon left with Wei Na and Beibei.
The village chief and villagers escorted them to the village entrance, reluctant to part.
They watched the three until they were out of sight before returning home.
At the same time, the golden light in the villagers' eyes gradually faded.
What no one knew was—
After Huo Yuhao, Wei Na, and Beibei departed, a figure silently appeared before Huo Yuner's grave.
It was Elder Song!
He was the one secretly responsible for verifying Huo Yuhao's identity!
Elder Song gazed at the grave mound, then looked toward the direction the three had left, nodding slowly.
He had witnessed everything that happened today. In addition, Shrek Academy's intelligence network had investigated the surrounding towns and gathered information about this mountain village.
They confirmed the village had existed for decades, and that the villagers had lived there for generations.
This ultimately verified that the village was legitimate and, therefore, so was Huo Yuhao's identity.
If only Shrek Academy had DNA testing, they probably would have dug up Huo Yuner's body and compared bloodlines.
It was precisely to prevent this that Huo Yuhao chose to relocate her grave early on, rather than use a substitute corpse.
Northward Journey.
They once again returned to the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Compared to a few months ago, the atmosphere there was noticeably more tense. Prices had also risen.
Because war was looming in the north!
As the strong had predicted, the northern beast tide was about to break out!
While passing through Heaven Dou City, Huo Yuhao and Beibei followed Wei Na to visit the Heavenly Soul Emperor.
Naturally, the Emperor warmly welcomed them.
When he saw the closeness between Wei Na and Huo Yuhao, he was even more pleased.
Wei Na had always maintained contact with the Heavenly Soul Empire, keeping the Emperor informed of her relationship's progress.
In the Emperor's eyes, everything was proceeding smoothly.
The way he looked at Huo Yuhao now was like a mother-in-law admiring her future son-in-law—he liked what he saw more and more.
They stayed in Heaven Dou City for one night.
The next day—
The Heavenly Soul Emperor dispatched a squad of guards to escort the three northward to help fight the beast tide.
This time, the Heavenly Soul Empire had not sought help from Shrek Academy.
Mainly because the beast tide was not as ferocious as expected. The Empire still had the strength to cope.
Investigation showed that this tide was led by a coalition of soul beast tribes migrating southward, without a Beast King commanding them.
If the Empire could successfully fend off the beast tide, they would gain a massive number of soul beast corpses—valuable resources that would enhance the cultivation and development of their soul masters.
Thus, this crisis was also an opportunity.
Of course, other forces had also joined the battle.
Including some academies and sects.
The Heavenly Soul Empire did not object.
After all, while they intended to eat the meat, others could at least sip the soup.
Among the Body Sect's team, Long Aotian and other young disciples followed behind two Soul Douluos and one Titled Douluo.
Compared to a few months ago, Long Aotian's aura was more composed, and his gaze sharper.
"Let this beast tide prove the results of my training."
"Huo Yuhao, next time we meet, I'll definitely defeat you! I won't let you poison me again!"
"Wei Na, I'll show you what a true powerhouse looks like!"
Northern Front Line.
Yanxue City.
This city lies in the northern region of the Heavenly Soul Empire. Although it is still a distance from the border of the Extreme North, it has now become the front line in resisting the beast tide from that region.
That's because the territory north of Yanxue City has largely been overrun by soul beasts.
Thus, Yanxue City became the first line of defense against the beast tide from the Extreme North.
Currently, a large number of soldiers and soul masters are stationed along the defensive lines of Yanxue City, facing the soul beasts across the battlefield.
At the same time, the Grand Marshal of the Heavenly Soul Empire—Prince Xueyu—is personally overseeing the defense here.
From the surname "Xueyu," it's easy to see his bloodline heritage.
The Heavenly Soul Empire inherited the legacy of the former Heaven Dou Empire—not only because they took over Heaven Dou City, but more importantly, because the imperial family of the Heavenly Soul Empire bears the surname Xue.
Princess Wei Na, who is also of royal descent, has the full name Xue Wei Na.
Fortunately, the imperial family of the Heavenly Soul Empire inherited only the surname "Xue," and not the Swan Martial Soul of the Xue family. Otherwise, in this era, the imperial family would not have been able to hold onto the throne.
This is because the Swan Martial Soul, in terms of power, had already been phased out in the long lineage of bloodline evolution over the past ten thousand years, replaced by higher-grade martial souls.
When Huo Yuhao and his companions arrived, they were taken directly to the City Lord's Mansion, where they met Prince Xueyu.
The meeting took place in a study. Prince Xueyu appeared to be a refined middle-aged man with the air of a scholar, dressed in elegant white noble garments. He didn't exude an intimidating aura but instead smiled gently like a gracious noble.
In reality, however, Prince Xueyu was a renowned general of the Heavenly Soul Empire, with vast battlefield experience, and his reputation extended across the entire Douluo Continent. He himself was a titled Douluo.
In the original canon, Prince Xueyu was the supreme commander of the coalition forces of the original three Douluo nations against the Sun-Moon Empire. This alone speaks volumes about his prestige and capability.
Besides Prince Xueyu, two other titled Douluos were present in the study—both were consecrated elders of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
One was a kindly old lady named Shui Xia, titled Ice Phoenix Douluo, with the Ice Phoenix Martial Soul. She was a control-type Titled Douluo at Rank 93.
The other was a red-haired old man named Huoguanlong, titled Violent Dragon Douluo, with the Unihorn Flame Tyrannosaurus Martial Soul. He was a power-type Titled Douluo at Rank 91.
From their surnames and martial souls, one could reasonably deduce the identities of their ancestors.
That's how this world works.
As long as the martial soul inherited in the bloodline is powerful enough, a family can persist through the ages, producing one strong successor after another.
Tang Sect lacked this awareness. Clinging stubbornly to Blue Silver Grass, they perished.
By contrast, the Qian Gu Clan, to which Wang Yan belongs, had ancestors who were elders of the Spirit Hall. Though affected by its downfall, they relied on the powerful Coiling Dragon Staff martial soul to endure. Now aligned with Shrek Academy, they are poised to shine again.
Shrek Academy valued Huo Yuhao so highly precisely because, according to him, his Ultimate Martial Soul is heritable!
The two consecrated elders, along with Prince Xueyu, formed the strongest force guarding the current front line.
They sat in three chairs, smiling as they looked at Huo Yuhao, Beibei, and Wei Na.
A guard brought in chairs for the trio and left respectfully, closing the door behind him.
"Uncle Yu, Grandma Xia, Grandpa Long," Wei Na greeted them affectionately.
She then introduced everyone to one another.
The atmosphere was warm and friendly.
"Good, good. As expected of the Dragon God Douluo's disciples and descendants—so young and already this capable. Remarkable indeed," Prince Xueyu praised without reservation.
"You flatter us, sir," Beibei responded modestly.
"No need to be so humble, my young friend."
Still, Prince Xueyu's gaze was primarily fixed on Huo Yuhao, who sat quietly and obediently.
Beibei was a standard genius, on par with Wei Na.
But Huo Yuhao? He was on a different level altogether. According to the emperor's letter, Prince Xueyu had already learned about Huo Yuhao's monstrous talent—so incredible he almost doubted the report's authenticity.
Twelve years old, nearing Rank 40. Possessing the Ultimate Ice attribute. First three soul rings: Purple, Purple, Black. Also capable of a martial soul fusion technique with Wei Na.
All the good fortune seemed to favor Huo Yuhao!
After all, Huo Yuhao was destined to become the son-in-law of the Heavenly Soul Empire. That was already decided.
The empire would do everything possible to ensure it happened.
Hence Prince Xueyu's kindness and his carefully laid plans.
Huo Yuhao said nothing, only smiled politely. He had little interest in these "meet the in-laws" rituals.
If you think highly of me—then give me something good!
Soul bones would be nice. Gold soul coins are fine too.
Don't just sit there babbling nonsense!
Tch! Are you trying to win Brother Hao's favor for free?
"As for your arrangements, how about this? Since you came together, you'll form a three-person team and act alongside soul masters from other sects and academies. The escort squad my royal brother assigned to protect you will now be under your command. How's that?"
Wei Na looked at Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao looked at Beibei.
Then Wei Na also turned to Beibei, frowning slightly.
Who would've thought that, after leaving Shrek Academy, the one standing between her and Huo Yuhao would be another man?
Beibei noticed them both looking at him and realized he was now the spokesman. He thought for a moment and nodded. "Then we'll follow the Marshal's arrangement."
Although they were not subjects of the Heavenly Soul Empire, since they had come to resist the beast tide, they needed to follow the empire's orders. The same applied to soul masters from other sects and academies.
If you want to share the soup, you have to act like you're here for the soup~
"Hahaha! Good. Then I shall look forward to your performance on the battlefield."
The Ice Phoenix Douluo stood up, smiling, and said, "Let this old lady arrange accommodations for our three little heroes. It's been a long time since I last saw Little Wei Na, too."
Beibei quickly stood up with Huo Yuhao and waved his hands. "We've yet to earn any merit—hardly worthy of being called heroes."
"You will be, sooner or later," Ice Phoenix Douluo said kindly.
After bidding farewell to Prince Xueyu...
Ice Phoenix Douluo led the trio to their assigned barracks location and their personal escort squad.
They weren't given any special treatment. Ice Phoenix Douluo stationed them near the area where sect and academy teams were settled.
The camp was close to the military base.
Their arrival drew attention from various sects and academies.
The soul masters from these groups all wore their distinctive sect or school uniforms.
Suddenly, a squad of fully armored soldiers appeared—a striking visual contrast.
Soul masters participating in the beast tide defense could collect tents and supplies from the quartermaster.
But the escort squad had long been prepared with their own camp equipment, ready to set up immediately—clearly a premeditated deployment.
Perhaps the moment Huo Yuhao and his group entered the empire, their entire arrangement had already been determined by the Heavenly Soul Empire.
The so-called escort and Prince Xueyu's arrangements were mere formalities.
The soldiers assigned to the trio accepted their orders without hesitation, as if it was only natural.
Though officially under Huo Yuhao's command, in reality, their mission during the beast tide would be to protect him.
Beibei and Huo Yuhao joined in the setup of the camp.
Meanwhile, Ice Phoenix Douluo stood aside with Wei Na.
Watching the busy Huo Yuhao, Ice Phoenix Douluo whispered to Wei Na.
"Little Wei Na, how far have you two gotten?"
"Eh?" Wei Na was stunned.
"I mean, have you held hands? Kissed? Or already… you know…"
"Grandma Xia! What are you saying?!" Wei Na's face flushed red as she quickly interrupted, defending herself: "Yuhao's still young…"
In fact, Wei Na was closer to Ice Phoenix Douluo than to Prince Xueyu.
Ice Phoenix Douluo had once mentored her in controlling ice and snow power, making her something of a half-teacher.
"A twelve-year-old boy isn't that young. He's ready to go!" Ice Phoenix Douluo spouted boldly. "If I were a few decades younger and still interested in that sort of thing, I'd make a move myself. So handsome, and with an Ultimate Ice attribute—perfect match for an ice-type female soul master."
"Grandma Xia, what are you even talking about?!"
"What's the matter, shy little girl? You're under orders to seduce him, aren't you? If you've got your eye on him, make a move before some vixen snatches him away! Back in my day, I stole my husband right out from another woman's arms…"
Wei Na was furious. "Grandma Xia!!!"
"Alright, alright, I won't say any more," Ice Phoenix Douluo said, still mumbling, "Young people these days... really no guts. Just cook the rice and serve it already. If you think you can't handle it alone, I've got a granddaughter about the right age who can help you…"
Wei Na fell silent, her face still red, secretly glancing at Huo Yuhao—who knows what she was thinking.
"Who are those people? They actually have soldiers guarding them? So arrogant!"
A striking young woman cast a displeased glance in the direction of Huo Yuhao and his companions. Her figure was alluring, her long pink hair flowing behind her, and her pink lips exuded an unusual rouge-like fragrance that made one want to taste them.
Her name was Nan Qiuqiu, the young mistress of the Dilong Sect. Around the same age as Bei Bei, she was a level 39 Assault System Battle Soul Master. Her martial soul: Rouge Dragon.
There were many soul masters who were displeased with Huo Yuhao's group.
Whether they were academy students or sect disciples, the looks they cast toward Huo Yuhao and the others brimmed with contempt.
They couldn't stand this sort of pampered, privileged behavior during what was supposed to be a training exercise.
The real issue was—those privileges weren't theirs to enjoy.
Nan Qiuqiu was just one among many.
Some people even voiced more scathing comments, especially noble students from the academies.
"They really are arrogant!"
"Never seen such show-offs before!"
Two disciples from the Dilong Sect, Feng Jue and Xiao Ye, echoed Nan Qiuqiu's disdain.
They were part of her entourage on this training trip—essentially her lackeys.
"Silence!" a stern voice suddenly barked from behind the trio.
All three froze in place, falling silent immediately and straightening their backs.
They recognized the voice—it belonged to the Sect Master of the Dilong Sect!
A mature woman approached from behind them. Clad in a pink fox-fur coat, she could not conceal her explosive curves. Her long crimson hair flowed like flames, and beneath her bright red lips was a small beauty mark, exuding charm with every word she spoke. Her eyebrows bore a resemblance to Nan Qiuqiu's.
If Nan Qiuqiu was an unripe little apple, then this woman was a luscious, ripe peach.
Her presence drew the attention of many young men.
But those seasoned soul masters who recognized her, looked at her with caution.
This was none other than Nan Shuishui, Sect Master of the Dilong Sect and Nan Qiuqiu's mother. The most powerful member of the Dilong Sect, an Assault System Soul Douluo, and possessor of the Rouge Dragon martial soul.
The Rouge Dragon had an annihilation attribute, making Nan Shuishui like a rose with thorns—beautiful but deadly.
But Nan Shuishui ignored the gazes of others.
She was only here to drag her daughter and the two brats back.
Unlike the clueless youngsters, Nan Shuishui had noticed something.
While the youth sneered at Huo Yuhao's group, few had realized that their elders were looking at Huo Yuhao and his companions with serious, contemplative expressions.
The soldiers pitching tents nearby wore armor in the style of the Heaven Dou Imperial Guard!
This meant the soldiers—and those they were protecting—were from Heaven Dou City and held high status.
Next to those soldiers, observing the tent construction, were an elderly woman and a young girl. While Nan Shuishui didn't recognize the girl, she definitely knew the old woman—
A Titled Douluo from the Heavenly Soul Empire!
With the imperial guard providing protection and a Titled Douluo accompanying them, those being protected were either royalty or nobles of extremely high status.
The Ice Phoenix Douluo must've overheard the juniors' chatter but didn't interfere. She was clearly waiting for people like Nan Shuishui to discipline their own children.
That's just how things worked in society.
Though the Dilong Sect was based in Long City, which the Heavenly Soul Empire couldn't directly control—
Avoiding trouble was still the smarter path.
"You've got time to gossip about others, but not to train harder and surpass the juniors of the Tianlong Sect?" Nan Shuishui scolded the three sharply.
Rather than speculating about Huo Yuhao and his companions, the priority was clearly to outperform the Tianlong Sect. That was the Dilong Sect's main objective.
"Yes, Ma'am!" ×3
Faced with the strict Nan Shuishui, Nan Qiuqiu dared not retort. She immediately straightened up and scurried back to her tent, as did the other two.
Only then did Nan Shuishui turn to leave.
But after only a few steps, she suddenly turned back, her sharp phoenix-like eyes sweeping toward Huo Yuhao's group. After a moment of suspicion, she furrowed her brows and looked away.
"That sensation just now... what was that unsettling feeling?"
At that moment, Huo Yuhao was hammering iron stakes into a tent. He licked his lips and murmured:
"The Dilong Sect, huh~"
The annihilation attribute of the Rouge Dragon martial soul was pretty good—just a bit weaker than the destruction attribute of the Purple Radiance Annihilation Dragon.
"Too bad there are only two inheritors of the Rouge Dragon bloodline. That's not enough for the Exotic Ice Jade Wyrm martial soul to digest. But I can still make use of the annihilation attribute."
"Besides, the forbidden grounds of the Dilong Sect contain the Ice Polar Divine Crystal and the Myriad-Year Profound Ice Cavern—both would be extremely useful to me."
"And in Long City, where the Dilong Sect resides, there's also the Tianlong Sect, which carries on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul…"
"Can't miss out on any of this."
Thanks to the presence of Ice Phoenix Douluo—
The chattering juniors were quickly dragged away by their elders.
Huo Yuhao and his group were left in peace.
Once the tents were set up, the three of them and the soldiers entered to rest. Ice Phoenix Douluo quietly departed. No one else came to stir up trouble afterward—
To Huo Yuhao's slight disappointment. He was itching for a fight.
He dispatched the spiritual avatar of the Skydream Iceworm to scout the surroundings.
He discovered many factions that had appeared in the original story—each filled with talent.
For instance, among the sects were Tianlong Sect, Dilong Sect, and Moonlight Sect.
Disciples of both Tianlong and Dilong Sects possessed dragon bloodlines.
As for the Moonlight Sect—
In the original work, Zhang Lexuan had once disguised herself as a disciple of this sect. It truly existed, and most of its disciples had martial souls that could absorb and release starlight and moonlight.
When Moonlight Sect disciples cultivated together at night, the sight was beautiful—
And very suitable for assisting the Exotic Ice Jade Wyrm martial soul in cultivation.
As for the Body Sect, he hadn't seen them yet—perhaps they hadn't arrived or were stationed elsewhere.
In terms of academies, he saw forces like the Empyrean Academy and the Zheng Tian Academy, which had appeared in past tournaments.
These schools had all brought their competition teams, perhaps to give their disciples experience through this beast tide.
To his surprise—
He even spotted a team from Shrek Academy!
Interestingly, Shrek's encampment was positioned on the exact opposite side from where Huo Yuhao and his group were.
This meant that, for now, neither side knew of the other's presence—except for Huo Yuhao.
Was this arrangement deliberate? Or a coincidence?
"Let's see who Shrek Academy brought with them…"
Huo Yuhao suspected their competition team must be present.
Such a perfect training opportunity during a beast tide—Shrek's official team wouldn't miss out.
Sure enough—
Just as the Skydream Iceworm poked its head into the Shrek camp, it spotted a familiar figure.
One that made Huo Yuhao's heart flutter.
The eldest son of the White Tiger Duke—
Dai Yaoheng!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter 144: Reconnaissance Mission (Please Subscribe! Please Vote!)
Author: 一个漆黑的曳 (A Pitch-Black Trail)
Published: 2024-01-10
Although Huo Yuhao had frequently entered and exited Sea God Island, he was actually not very familiar with the inner court disciples.
On one hand, whenever Huo Yuhao went to Sea God Island, he was always with Mu En for cultivation and never had the chance to interact with the inner court disciples. On the other hand, Huo Yuhao's identity hadn't been made public within Shrek Academy, so the inner court disciples had never even heard of him.
Even in the outer court, most students and teachers assumed Huo Yuhao was Yan Shaozhe's disciple.
Yan Shaozhe had designated a private training ground for Huo Yuhao and even personally guided his cultivation, which everyone had witnessed.
Those who knew Huo Yuhao was actually Yan Shaozhe's junior brother numbered fewer than ten across the entire academy.
Still, Huo Yuhao immediately recognized Dai Yaoheng.
He relied on a sense of familiarity from memory—and a resonance in their bloodlines.
The moment he laid eyes on Dai Yaoheng, his White Tiger bloodline surged!
It was warm and longing.
Family... delicious!
Dai Yaoheng was tall and imposing, handsome and steady, his gaze as sharp as a blade. He also had a mane of wild golden hair, though he lacked the classic heterochromatic eyes of the Dai Clan.
Based on Huo Yuhao's analysis, the heterochromatic eyes signified a higher concentration of the White Tiger bloodline. Dai Clan members with those eyes were more likely to activate martial soul fusion techniques with Zhu Clan members.
Thus, although Dai Yaoheng wasn't lacking in talent, his bloodline concentration wasn't as high as Dai Huabin's. Moreover, he didn't have a Zhu Clan partner with whom to initiate a martial soul fusion.
"But it doesn't matter. Dai Yaoheng is already a six-ring Soul Emperor. Even if his bloodline concentration is a bit lower, it's been nurtured all these years."
"He's a mature dish now—ripe for harvesting."
Huo Yuhao licked his lips.
Compared to the still-green Dai Huabin, the mature Dai Yaoheng had a richer flavor.
"I wonder if the White Tiger bloodline in Dai Yaoheng's body can trigger new transformations in my Variant Ice Jade Centipede martial soul…"
After the Golden Tortoise sacrificed itself, Huo Yuhao fused with its external soul bone, thereby inheriting its high-density bloodline and unlocking the Centipede Armor transformation.
In fact, inducing a Variant Ice Jade Centipede transformation didn't require an extremely high concentration of bloodline—just a certain threshold.
The Centipede Armor transformation had consumed only a small portion of the Golden Tortoise's bloodline.
Huo Yuhao didn't act rashly, but Dai Yaoheng was now firmly within his hunting range.
After a night's rest, early the next morning, Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, and Wei Na woke up and began preparing for their training mission.
At present, soul masters stationed on the frontlines of the Extreme North were divided into three main categories:
The Soul Master Army of the Heavenly Soul Empire – They had the greatest numbers and the strongest strength. Their responsibilities included guarding the frontlines and resisting the oncoming beast tide. They were the core military force.
Soul Masters from Organizations – These included disciples from sects, academies, and noble families. Though few in number, they were generally elite. They came to the frontlines for training and did not oppose the army's management. They had the freedom to choose where to set up camp.
Freelance Soul Masters – This group consisted of mercenary groups and individual soul masters, mostly commoners. They were numerous and varied widely in power and motives. Most were here for personal gain.
The army was especially vigilant against these freelance soul masters.
Because their backgrounds couldn't be confirmed, they could easily include spies or evil soul masters from enemy nations.
Thus, freelance soul masters were only allowed into the city for resupply but not for rest. They had to stay in designated gathering zones outside the city.
Although this caused discontent among some, the rule ensured stability on the frontlines. And as long as there were profits to be made, such complaints would eventually disappear.
There were two main paths for those seeking to train or earn profits on the frontlines:
These were primarily designed for organization-backed and freelance soul masters.
Taking on Tasks from the Army – These missions usually involved reconnaissance or hunting small groups of soul beasts. All spoils belonged to the mission-taker, and they could also earn military merit.
Military merit could be exchanged for rewards.
Those willing to enlist could use their merit to acquire official ranks.
Ranks were explicitly priced and available for purchase.
This method of absorbing civilian talent was something the Heavenly Soul Empire eagerly promoted.
Independent Exploration – The army did not intervene with these soul masters, nor did it offer them any protection or guarantee their rights.
If their actions conflicted with military operations, the army would ruthlessly eliminate any obstructing soul masters.
In severe cases, the empire would issue a warrant for their arrest, implicating even their family and friends.
Huo Yuhao felt like he was playing a large-scale RPG.
The organization-backed soul masters were like guild members.
Freelance soul masters were like solo players.
The Heavenly Soul Empire and its military were the faction and story-driven NPCs.
The invading soul beasts were the monsters.
But as long as there were rewards, who cared?
Huo Yuhao and his companions had gotten up early that morning to accept a mission and head out to train.
They could only choose the first method of training.
This option ensured their safety to the greatest extent and helped build ties with the Heavenly Soul Empire.
Most soul masters from major forces also preferred this approach.
"Today's mission is a reconnaissance task. We're to investigate the activity of a snowfield wolf pack in the northwest region," Bei Bei explained as they moved forward.
"This particular pack is made up of several merged groups, totaling over a hundred wolves. The alpha wolf has a cultivation of 40,000 years. There are about ten wolves above 10,000 years in age."
"We only need to locate their general range and direction of activity. That will be sufficient."
"The reward is 100 gold soul coins and 10 military merit points."
"If we manage to exterminate the pack, we can submit their left fangs as proof."
"The extra reward is 10,000 gold soul coins and 300 military merit points."
"The reward has increased several times," Wei Na commented, "but the difficulty has also multiplied."
Reconnaissance missions typically carried minimal danger.
All they had to do was return with intelligence; the army would then send troops to verify and eliminate the threat.
But exterminating the pack meant confronting a 40,000-year-old wolf king and an entire horde of snowfield wolves.
The level of danger was on an entirely different scale.
If it were just Bei Bei and Wei Na, they would've certainly only gone for the recon mission.
"Big Brother Bei Bei, Sister Wei Na, I want to try exterminating this wolf pack!" Huo Yuhao said earnestly, clenching his fist. "I want to test the results of my training!"
Bei Bei furrowed his brows slightly—he felt it was too risky.
But Wei Na gave a small smile. "Alright, Yuhao. Go ahead and try. We'll support you."
This wasn't the time to undermine a man's confidence—it was time to encourage and back him up.
Wei Na had spent months studying support techniques.
Besides, even if things went wrong, they had a team of imperial guards protecting them from the shadows.
Their captain was a seven-ring Soul Sage—more than capable of rescuing Huo Yuhao in a crisis.
Eventually, Bei Bei also nodded his agreement.
As for the guards trailing behind them, they remained silent throughout. Their only job was to follow orders.
After some searching, Huo Yuhao and his group quickly located the snowfield wolf pack.
With over a hundred wolves, they were a dominant force in the area. No other soul beasts dared linger nearby. The wolves' howls echoed regularly, making it easy to pinpoint their location.
On a vast grassland—
Light snow drifted down, settling over the grass, while tiny blades poked through the snowy veil. It was a scene of beauty unique to the northern lands of the Heavenly Soul Empire.
A pack of Snowfield Wolves roamed leisurely across the area.
At the center of the group were the nursing mother wolves and the young pups in the midst of growth.
Surrounding them were adult wolves standing guard.
And in the very middle, a massive wolf king—far larger than any of the others—lay in contemplation, thinking about the future of the pack. Having survived for forty thousand years, this soul beast had gained considerable intelligence.
With the pack's ever-growing numbers, their daily consumption of meat had increased substantially.
And now, the meat resources in this grassland had nearly been depleted. It was time to move on.
But if they couldn't find a new area rich in prey, their only option would be to head further south—risking direct conflict with humans.
However, for the Snowfield Wolves, finding a resource-rich area capable of sustaining over a hundred wolves was no easy task.
Conflict with humans in the south seemed inevitable.
And it wasn't just the Snowfield Wolves. Other soul beasts migrating south faced the same dilemma.
Though the southern lands were warmer and more abundant, these creatures from the far north still hadn't adapted to the new ecosystem. Bloodshed and conflict with humans were unavoidable.
At this moment, the Snowfield Wolf pack had drawn close to the Heavenly Soul Empire's defense line—becoming one of the closest soul beast groups to the border. The empire had decided: the wolves had to be eliminated first.
Suddenly, the wolf king lying on the ground lifted its head sharply, scanning its surroundings with wary eyes.
A bad feeling washed over it.
Just as it tried to rise and howl in warning, the ground beneath it suddenly burst open—followed by a searing pain in its abdomen.
A massive centipede had erupted from underground, its grotesque pincers sinking into the wolf king's belly. Blood sprayed into the air.
A Mutant Frost Centipede Martial Soul!
The centipede rose, grabbing the wolf king into the air and beginning to tear into it.
But this was still a wolf king.
Despite the injury, it retaliated with feral ferocity, willing to trade wound for wound. Gathering soul power in its maw, it shot a thick ice arrow at the Frost Centipede.
The attack hit—but couldn't penetrate the centipede's tough armored shell.
Only now did the other Snowfield Wolves react.
The ten-thousand-year-old wolves howled in unison, rushing to aid their king.
But figures descended from the sky—blocking their path.
The Imperial Guard had arrived.
Equipped with flying soul tools, the twenty elite guards blocked over a hundred wolves—showing just how formidable they were.
Among them were Beibei and Vena.
A 5,000-year Snowfield Wolf was left for Beibei and Vena to deal with.
While the 40,000-year-old wolf king was left to Huo Yuhao.
The leader of the Imperial Guard watched the Frost Centipede mauling the wolf king with a glint of curiosity.
Even he, a Soul Sage, would find it tough to take down the wolf king alone. Yet here was a Soul Elder already suppressing it.
But on second thought, the situation wasn't so simple.
Unlike typical soul masters, Huo Yuhao's Frost Centipede martial soul could act independently in battle without fear of injury.
Descending slowly into the battlefield, Huo Yuhao landed, watching the intense fight between the centipede and the wolf king.
The wolf king struggled fiercely and finally broke free from the centipede's grip. Landing on all fours, it crouched low and bared its fangs, preparing to strike.
But its abdomen was already drenched in blood.
The Frost Centipede now faced it head-on.
Huo Yuhao stood behind his martial soul, calmly observing the wounded wolf king.
It no longer had much strength to fight back. The frost poison had already invaded its body—defeat was inevitable.
An ice-attribute beast like the wolf king now felt a chilling cold far beyond its tolerance, its body trembling uncontrollably.
Sensing its declining state, the wolf king knew it couldn't afford to hesitate. Letting out a long howl, silver light enveloped its body—
A buff-type soul skill!
It charged furiously at the Frost Centipede.
Under the control of the Skydream Iceworm, the centipede engaged in close combat with the wolf king.
Meanwhile, outside the battlefield, other wolves launched a frenzied assault on the Imperial Guard, trying to break through and rescue their king.
The guards held the line with unyielding determination.
With Vena's healing, Beibei fought evenly against the 5,000-year Snowfield Wolf.
"Almost time…" Huo Yuhao murmured, noticing the wolf king's movements grow sluggish. His turn had come.
The Frost Centipede's greatest value lay in tanking damage and ambushing enemies with poison.
But real damage output—that was up to Huo Yuhao himself.
"Centipede, armor form!"
With a low shout, the centipede dissolved into a burst of cold light, reabsorbed into Huo Yuhao's body—forming a gleaming upper-body armor that clung to him tightly. Wings merged together like a flowing cape behind him.
Now, with no centipede to obstruct, Huo Yuhao stood fully exposed to the wolf king's view.
Though confused, the wolf king didn't hesitate—lunging straight at him, claws gleaming with icy energy.
But Huo Yuhao didn't dodge.
"Face-to-face? Let's see how you like my fists!"
He threw a punch.
The spectral image of the Frost Centipede wrapped around his arm. As his fist flew forward, it carried a freezing aura.
"Extreme Frost Centipede Fist!"
A sharp burst of cold light launched from his arm, curving beautifully through the air—striking the wolf king's forehead before it could reach him.
The wolf king's fur showed no damage—but the very next instant, its eyes shattered.
Twin beams of frost burst from its skull.
This single strike had frozen and pulverized the wolf king's brain!
The lifeless body collapsed to the ground, blood oozing from its mouth.
A black soul ring materialized above the corpse.
Expressionless, Huo Yuhao silently absorbed the wolf king's soul into his Ghost Banner, converting it into a ghost.
"Looks like… you weren't enough to push me to my limit."
Then he shouted to the Imperial Guards,
"Send in a few more!"
The guard captain narrowed his eyes and smirked.
"Release the ten-thousand-year wolves!"
Ten of them were herded into the encircled area—driven straight toward Huo Yuhao.
Facing them, Huo Yuhao simply closed his eyes.
None of these ten wolves could compare to the wolf king. The strongest among them was just twenty-thousand years old—and only one of that rank.
Beasts backed into a corner would still fight back.
The ten wolves lunged simultaneously, seemingly ready to drag Huo Yuhao into death with them.
But Huo Yuhao merely raised his arm—then clenched his fist.
"Frozen Mirage Fist!"
Thirty strikes.
Bursts of cold light flashed in all directions.
The ten wolves flying at him were all sent hurtling away, struck simultaneously—each suffering devastating blows.
Thirty punches in an instant—that was Huo Yuhao's current limit.